The Core Entertainment, Universal Music Canada Launch Joint Venture, Sign Steven Lee Olsen

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Steven Lee Olsen

The Core Entertainment management company and Universal Music Canada (UMC) have launched a new joint venture designed to offer Canadian artists a collaborative and integrated approach to releasing music worldwide. The joint venture’s first signing is Grammy-nominated, Nashville-based Canadian singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen.

Working in tandem, the UMC team, led by Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Remedios and Executive Vice President and General Manager Kristen Burke, together with The Core founders Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, and The Core Canada President Tracy Martin, will hand-select a roster of talent, developing the acts together in their respective and distinct roles as management and label.

The Core will offer management services, creative direction and A&R development to artists, bringing key acts to Universal Music Canada for UMC’s consideration to sign to a record deal. Artists signed will benefit from UMC’s globally focused strategic insight and project leadership.

“I’ve long admired Chief, Simon and Tracy’s individual strengths, smarts, and passions. The Core Entertainment’s vision and drive in championing artists is inspiring. This partnership is an opportunity to work with people we admire to do what we love — supporting a wide-range of artists in lockstep with a formidable management team,” says Remedios. “Steven Lee Olsen is a prolific songwriter with a voice that demands to be heard. With his signing, UMC couldn’t be prouder to double down on our commitment to country music with Steven at the forefront.”

“The Core strives to work with the most innovative and authentic industry leaders, and there’s no doubt Jeffrey, Kristen and the Universal Music Canada team are among the best in the business,” Tikhman, Zaruk, and Martin share. “We both know the artist always comes first, and this powerful collaboration will allow us to holistically support some of today’s brightest talent across genres. We’re thrilled to welcome country singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen to the family as our first joint signing and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Olsen moved to Nashville in 2004 and his songs have since been recorded by Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts, Billy Currington, Dallas Smith and others. He has notched two No.1 hits in the U.S. with his Grammy-nominated, double-Platinum certified “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Keith Urban) and “More Girls Like You” (Kip Moore).

Lorie Hollabaugh
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